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Re: "I'm broke" vs. "I don't have money"

Hi julee1029,

They are different expressions.

As you say, “I don’t have money” means that you have no money at a certain moment or along a period of time.

On the other hand, when you are broke, you are lacking of funds, ruined or impoverished, in an advantageous financial situation, or you have been legally declared financially insolvent. You are bankrupted, as, for instance, Bernard Madoff and his unfortunate clients.

Re: "I'm broke" vs. "I don't have money"

Originally Posted by Gillnetter

Interesting. In American English, the meanings are the same. If I'm broke it just means that I don't have any money - it has little to do with being bankrupt.

I agree. In India we too refer to being currently (but not necessarily permanently) out of money; you can say:I don't have money and I'm broke till pay day.
If you want to express a condition of permanent bankruptcy, then say:I have lost everything in business and forever gone broke.

Re: "I'm broke" vs. "I don't have money"

1.Lacking of funds at a certain moment.
2.Ruined, impoverished, or in advantageous financial situation.
3.Bankrupted.

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ENCARTA DICTIONARY

Broke

1.Having no money: without any money to spend.
2.Bankrupt: totally bankrupt.

FREEDICTIONARY

Broke

1.Bankrupt.
2.Lacking funds
3 Completely without money

(Among others)

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What I meant was that the term “broke” refers to certain situations that lead to the same result: you have no money. Because you are bankrupted or (informal) because you have no money till pay day (Sarat 106).

I understood that julee1029 referred to the situation described by Barb_D: the person in the restaurant has no money at that moment “...I don't have money now”).

In other case, if the person has no money because he has still not received his paycheck, etc. you could say “I have no money” or “I am broke” indistinctly.

Re: "I'm broke" vs. "I don't have money"

Originally Posted by José Manuel Rosón Bravo

Hi julee1029,

They are different expressions.

As you say, “I don’t have money” means that you have no money at a certain moment or along a period of time.

On the other hand, when you are broke, you are lacking of funds, ruined or impoverished, in an advantageous financial situation, or you have been legally declared financially insolvent. You are bankrupted, as, for instance, Bernard Madoff and his unfortunate clients.